Search form

Main menu

UK-Gabon Investment Forum 2012

On 29th November 2012, at The Sheraton Park Lane, London, Developing Markets Associates in association with Gabon's Agency for the Promotion of Investment and Exportation (APIEX), hosted the First UK-Gabon Investment Forum.

This highly successful event was attended by around 450 delegates including key stakeholders and high level representatives from both the public and private sectors.

Opening addresses were given by Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive of Developing Markets Associates; Nina Abouna, Chief Executive, APIEX and Alderman Roger Gifford, Lord Mayor of the City of London. HE Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Republic of Gabon then officially endorsed the conference with some inspiring words for the delegates.

There then followed sessions focusing on the work being done and investment opportunities in Industry, Mines and Energy, Infrastructural Development and Trade and Agriculture, Tourism and the Environment. These sessions included presentations from speakers such as HE Regis Immongault, Minister of Industry and Mines, Government of the Gabonese Republic; HE Etienne Ngoubou, Minister of Oil, Energy and Hydraulic Resources, Government of the Gabonese Republic; Steve Brown, Chief Executive, Setanta Energy; Martin Horgan, Chief Executive, Toro Gold; Henri Ohayon, Chief Executive, National Agency of Public Works, Government of the Gabonese Republic; Alain Ditona, General Manager, Deposits & Consignments Fund (CDC); Jean Baptiste Bikalou, CEO, Petro Gabon and Chairman, Chamber of Commerce; HE Julien Nkoghe Bekale, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock farming, Fisheries and Rural Development, Government of the Gabonese Republic; Professor Lee White, Director, Gabon National Parks Service; and Dr Adrian Drewett, Président Directeur Général, Shell Gabon. The sector sessions were were chaired by Lord David Chidgey, Vice Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group for Africa, Richard Dowden, Director of the Royal African Society and Henry Bellingham MP, Former Minister of State for Africa, respectively.

The day included a Networking Lunch, sponsored by Mott MacDonald & Integrated Petroleum Services (IPS); a Round Table on SME financing; and was rounded off by a Drinks Reception, sponsored by Tullow Oil, and at which the conference was congratulated by HE Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Republic of Gabon.